Working for Social
& Economic ChangeTackling Poverty
& Social Exclusion

Vote it's your right

These days most of us take voting for granted but it has not always been so easy. Although voting is one of your rights - that right had to be fought for. In history many different groups were denied the right to vote. For these citizens participation in the voting process was achieved through years of struggle.

Why This Website?

“We believe Justice will come when the voices of all people are heard”

This website is hosted by The Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice (www.vpsj.ie). The Vincentian Partnership for social justice was established in 1996 to work for for social and economic change – tackling poverty and exclusion. This Partnership consists of representatives of the society of St Vincent de Paul, the Vincentian Congregation and the Daughters of Charity and the Sisters of The Holy Faith.

In its work with communities in disadvantaged areas to promote justice and inclusion, the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice became aware of the large number of people who do not vote and who are alienated from society and the democratic process. The VPSJ along with a small number of people had a vision of an Ireland in which the voices of all citizens would be heard – an inclusive Ireland characterised by active citizenship and greater social and economic justice.

The VPSJ along with its National Active Citizenship Network members began to promote the facilitation of an Active Citizenship/Voter Education Programme in areas of low participation in the electoral democratic process. This Voter Education programme was developed by a religious group in Washington called NETWORK and adapted for use in Ireland by the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice.

This Voter Education programme provides a valuable resource for all who are committed to addressing the situation where a only relatively small number of people who are marginalised or disadvantaged in some way vote in elections. As a consequence their views are not taken into consideration by many of the political parties as they formulate and implement their policies. In 2011, the vision of an Ireland where voices can be heard is shared and promoted by an ever increasing number of people.

This website is a further resource and tool in the work of the VPSJ to encourage people to use their vote as their voice and to engage with the democratic process. The Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice and this website are non-party political. They are not here to influence your vote but to become more aware of how to use our vote.

Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice Vision of a Just Society: A Just Society is:

FAIR

RESPECTFUL OF ALL

CARING

RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF ALL PEOPLE AND ALL CREATION.

The Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice acknowledges the generous grant from Dept of Community rural and Gaeltact Affairs towards the development of this web site.

Contributions and ideas from members of our Active Citizenship Network

Register to Vote

Workshops

The Active Citizenship/Voter Education Programme (AC/VEP) will recommence in January 2017. The Programme is non-party political is 85% participation and 15% information. The VPSJ also provide workshops in Training community leaders/workers to facilitate the Programme. To date these workshops have been facilitated with hundreds of groups throughout the republic